New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that infielder Jeff McNeil (oblique) has been hitting off a pitching machine in the batting cages. McNeil was forced to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list due to a right-oblique strain that he suffered in spring training. The 32-year-old veteran and former batting champion is working his way back, though, and may be able to make his season debut before the end of April, barring a setback once he begins a minor-league rehab assignment. In the meantime, Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuna will continue their platoon at the keystone, with Baty facing right-handers and Acuna in there against lefties. McNeil has middling power and speed and didn't look anything like a former batting champion the last couple of years. At best, he's a middle-infield option without much upside in deep-mixed leagues when he's healthy.

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New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) said that he's feeling good after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his strained right oblique on Tuesday. Manaea still has a ways to go, but the fact that he's feeling better is certainly good news. Still, the 33-year-old needs to be fully built up again after dealing with his oblique injury for most of spring training. It means that fantasy managers won't be able to rely on the veteran southpaw until May, at the earliest. It's also probably fooling to expect the former first-rounder to be as good as he was in his first year with the Mets in 2024 when he went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA (3.83 ERA) and 1.08 WHIP with 184 strikeouts and 63 walks in 32 innings covering a career-high 181 2/3 innings pitched in the regular season. A lower arm slot led to his sinker being more effective late in the season, but can he maintain that good form after this injury?

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (hand) was scheduled to catch right-hander Kodai Senga's bullpen session on Friday and take batting practice in the cages, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Alvarez is recovering after needing surgery to fix a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, but it's unclear when he might be able to return to make his 2025 season debut. Until the 23-year-old is able to return, Luis Torrens will continue to serve as the Mets' starting catcher, with Hayden Senger serving as the backup. When healthy, Alvarez is the Mets' primary backstop, and the Venezuelan catcher showed plenty of promise by hitting 25 home runs and driving in 63 back in 2023. A torn UCL in his left hand set him back a year ago, though, and he was able to hit only 11 homers in 100 games played. He's a top-12 fantasy catcher when healthy.

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New York Yankees right-handed reliever Scott Effross (hamstring) suffered a setback with his hamstring injury, according to manager Aaron Boone. Effross is now in a holding pattern instead of advancing to face live hitters. Effross suffered a Grade 2 left-hamstring strain in his first outing of spring training back on Feb. 25 and will now miss even more time. The fact that the 31-year-old hasn't even progressed to facing live hitters means we most likely won't see him make his 2025 season debut until sometime in May. Injuries have become a big problem for Effross, as he didn't pitch at all in 2023 and made just three relief appearances for the Yankees in 2024, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out two in 3 1/3 frames. New York probably isn't holding their breathe for him to contribute much in their bullpen.

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New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (lat) is seven to 10 days away from playing catch, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. It's good news that Gil is getting close to throwing the baseball again, but he has a long ways to go and is expected to be out at least until June due to a high-grade right-lat strain that he suffered in spring training. The 26-year-old is currently on the 60-day injured list. It's possible that Gil won't pitch at all in the first half of the season, so fantasy managers must decide if he's worth stashing in an IL spot given other needs on their rosters. The Dominican pitcher had a strong season for the Yankees in 2024 in his first action since 2022, going 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.19 WHIP to win American League Rookie of the Year honors. However, a career-high 151 2/3 innings might have taken its toll.

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New York Yankees right-handed reliever Jake Cousins (elbow) is under a week away from getting back on the mound, according to the New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. Meanwhile, right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton (illness) is scheduled to rejoin the Yankees' bullpen for their series in Detroit that starts on Monday, April 7. Cousins was unable to pitch at all in spring training due to a right-elbow flexor strain and began the regular season on the 60-day injured list as a result. The 30-year-old pitched well for the Yanks down the stretch and could be back in a high-leverage role eventually in 2025, but he won't be eligible to return until at least late May. Hamilton dealt with an undisclosed illness in spring training but is now feeling better after going on a minor-league rehab assignment. He's been solid for the Yankees since 2023 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.28 WHIP, but he's unlikely to have much fantasy appeal in a middle-relief role.

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Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (shoulder) will play shortstop for the first time on Friday night in a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Salt Lake, according to play-by-play announcer Tony Parks. Neto looked great during workouts during the week and has been cleared to play defense as he rehabs from offseason shoulder surgery. The 24-year-old middle infielder has already played in three games with the Bees as the designated hitter and has gone 3-for-13 with a home run, double and two RBI. As long as Neto doesn't suffer a setback with his surgically-repaired shoulder as he returns to action on defense, he should be ready to come off the 10-day injured list at some point next week to make his 2025 season debut with the Halos. The former first-rounder hit 23 homers and stole 30 bases in 155 games in his first full MLB season in 2024 and should be stashed in all fantasy formats as he nears his return.

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Cincinnati Reds outfielder/corner infielder Spencer Steer is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Jeimer Candelario is serving as the designated hitter and is batting fifth, while Santiago Espinal is playing third base and batting eighth against Brewers left-hander Tyler Alexander. Candelario has never faced Alexander in his career, while Espinal is hitless in just three at-bats. When considering that Steer only played in three spring training games due to a minor shoulder injury, it isn't all that surprising that he's off to just a 1-for-18 start to the 2025 regular season at the plate. The 27-year-old right-handed hitter has yet to play on defense because of his shoulder, either, being limited to DH duties. Candelario hasn't been much better, going 5-for-25 with three RBI, two walks and eight strikeouts in seven games played.

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MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (rib) caught seven innings in a minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday night and will catch right-hander Spencer Strider's (elbow) rehab start on Friday night. Barring a setback, Murphy is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list in one of the next few days. The 30-year-old veteran should be back with the Braves to make his season debut before the end of this weekend's series in Atlanta against the division-rival Miami Marlins. With Murphy beginning the year on the shelf, catching prospect Drake Baldwin has been serving as the team's primary catcher, with Chadwick Tromp working as his backup. Entering Friday's action, Baldwin has just one hit in his first 18 big-league at-bats and could be sent to the minors following Murphy's return. Murphy should be rostered in all fantasy leagues.

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Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the team is monitoring right-hander Jack Leiter's (finger) blister issue. It's not a big concern, but the Rangers are considering placing him on the injured list to allow it to calm down. If Leiter goes on the IL, left-hander Patrick Corbin would make his debut in Leiter's rotation spot. The 24-year-old exited his second start of the season on Wednesday versus the Cincinnati Reds with a blister issue on his finger, even though he threw five shutout innings with six strikeouts while allowing just one hit. Landing on the IL, even though it's not a serious injury by any means, would be a bummer considering how well Leiter has pitched in his first two starts. In 10 innings pitched, he's allowed just one earned run on six hits while walking one and striking out 10. It's a big improvement after he held an 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his first nine MLB outings (six starts) in 2024.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham (illness) was removed from Friday's game early at PNC Park versus the visiting New York Yankees due to an illness. Pham is being treated and is considered day-to-day. Pham was replaced in left field by Alexander Canario after going hitless in his only plate appearance with a groundout in the second inning. We'd be surprised if the 37-year-old is in the starting lineup for Saturday's second game of the series. In addition to the illness, it's been a rough start to the 2025 season for Pham, who came into Friday's contest hitting .087 (2-for-23) in the early going with a double, three stolen bases, three walks and eight strikeouts in 27 plate appearances over seven games played. Hopefully Pham will be feeling good enough for the start of a new series on Monday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals.

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Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez (back) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Saturday in Clearwater, Florida, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. It's a big step for Suarez, as it will be his first time facing live hitters since he was shut down with lower-back stiffness in spring training camp in the middle of March. If the 29-year-old southpaw is able to avoid a setback with his back this weekend, the Phillies will likely clear him to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Suarez will likely need several rehab starts, which means he could rejoin Philadelphia's big-league starting rotation and make his season debut by the end of April. He missed around a month in 2024 with the same injury and wasn't the same pitcher the rest of the way after posting a 1.75 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in his first 15 starts. Suarez is a ground-ball pitcher that lacks a ton of fantasy upside with a below-average career strikeout rate.

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Detroit Tigers right-handers Sawyer Gipson-Long (hip, elbow) and Ty Madden (shoulder) are both scheduled to throw bullpen sessions on Saturday. Gipson-Long is recovering from a left-hip labral repair and right-UCL reconstruction, while Madden is rehabbing from a right-shoulder strain. Meanwhile, right-hander Jose Urquidy (elbow) is playing catch out to 105 feet three times a week as he recovers from right-UCL reconstruction. Gipson-Long is on the 60-day injured list after having Tommy John surgery last April and hip surgery last July. Barring a setback, the 27-year-old won't be an option for the Tigers until around the All-Star break in mid-July. Madden, 25, suffered a right rotator-cuff strain in spring training and won't be able to return until at least the end of May while on the 60-day IL.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder next Tuesday, according to manager Brian Snitker. The Braves will have a better idea on the extent of damage in Lopez's shoulder after the surgery. The 31-year-old veteran hurler has already been placed on the 60-day injured list, though, which means he'll be out until at least late May, but it's more likely that we won't see him again until the second half of the season. It's a big blow for the Braves and the veteran Dominican, but the good news for Atlanta's pitching staff is that Spencer Strider (elbow) should make his 2025 debut later this month. In his return to a starting role in 2024 in his first year in Atlanta, Lopez was a first-time All-Star by going 8-5 with a 1.99 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 148 K's and 42 walks in 135 2/3 innings. Expecting him to return to that form in the second half this year is probably asking a lot.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter showed his power in Friday's 7-4 win over the division-rival Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park by going 2-for-5 with two solo home runs and a strikeout. The home runs were Carpenter's first of the 2025 season, and he's now hitting .261 with an .815 OPS in the early going for fantasy managers. The 27-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder played in only 87 games in 2024 due to injuries, but when he was available, he was a consistent producer with a .284/.345/.587 slash line, career-high .932 OPS, 18 home runs, 57 RBI and 37 runs scored in 296 plate appearances. Carpenter's lack of success against left-handed pitching is a problem, though, and it affects his overall fantasy upside for those that have him rostered in mixed leagues.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Wenceel Perez (back) received the second of two scheduled cortisone injections on Friday, according to MLive's Evan Woodbery. Perez was forced to the injured list to begin the 2025 season due to lumbar-spine inflammation, and there's currently no timetable for his return. With no clear picture on when he might be able to make his season debut, the 25-year-old most likely won't come off the IL until May. When he is healthy, expect him to be an option for a platoon role in center field with Parker Meadows (arm) also out for the foreseeable future. The switch-hitting Dominican can be left to the waiver wire in mixed leagues for now. Last year was his first year in the big leagues, and he hit .242/.300/.383 with a .683 OPS, nine home runs, 37 RBI and nine steals in 112 games played.

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The Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports that Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (neck) is taking ground balls and has been doing some hitting as he rehabs from neck spasms that landed him on the 10-day injured list. Jung is eligible to be activated from the IL next Tuesday, but it remains to be seen if he'll be back with the big-league squad by then. With the 27-year-old on the shelf, Josh Smith has been serving as Texas' starting third baseman, and he's starting at the hot corner again on Friday and batting seventh against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell. Jung, the former eighth overall pick in 2019 out of Texas Tech, has immense power upside for fantasy managers, but his inability to stay on the field early in his career has become an issue. He was a first-time All-Star in 2023 and hit 23 homers and drove in 70 runs, but he played in 46 games last year due to injuries and didn't take long to get hurt again this year.

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Miami Marlins outfielder Derek Hill (back) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Atlanta Braves on the road at Truist Park. With Hill missing his third straight start due to back tightness, the Fish will start Griffin Conine, Dane Myers and Kyle Stowers across the outfield from left to right, respectively. If the 29-year-old Hill will likely be forced to the 10-day injured list if he's unable to return to the lineup by the end of the weekend series in Atlanta. The former first-rounder by the Detroit Tigers in 2014 went 5-for-18 with two doubles, an RBI and a stolen base in five games before injuring his back. Stowers is the only Marlins outfielder in the starting lineup on Friday that has faced Braves right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach before, and he has one hit in just three career at-bats against him.

From RotoBaller

Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka will get the start behind the dish on Friday over Jonah Heim in the series opener against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. Higashioka will catch right-hander Tyler Mahle and will bat eighth against Rays right-hander Zack Littell. So far through eight games in 2025, Higashioka and Heim have had four starts apiece, splitting the catching work right down the middle. After a career year in San Diego in 2024, Higashioka has two hits in his first nine at-bats with the Rangers, including one RBI. Heim has looked better so far in a small sample size, batting .308 with two home runs and two RBI in 13 plate appearances. Higashioka will have limited DFS upside in the eight-hole on Friday, but he does have a solo home run in two career at-bats against Littell.

From RotoBaller

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has been dropped down to fifth in the batting order for Friday's series opener at Truist Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander Max Meyer. Riley has hit either second or third for the first seven games of the season, but the Braves are going to change things up as they search for their first win of 2025. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger isn't the only one slumping to begin the year in Atlanta's lineup, but he has gone 3-for-27 with a home run, one RBI, two runs scored, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances. Second baseman Ozzie Albies will hit second in the lineup. The drop in the order will make Riley less attractive for DFS purposes, although he has hit .400 with a solo home run in a small sample size of five career at-bats against Meyer.

From RotoBaller